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30sumthin Starting antidepressant, scared
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, hoping to get a little perspective from those who have been successful with meds. I'm about to start a SSRI antidepressant for anxiety and remember from having taken a different antidepressant medication years ago how bad the initial adj... View more

Hi everyone, hoping to get a little perspective from those who have been successful with meds. I'm about to start a SSRI antidepressant for anxiety and remember from having taken a different antidepressant medication years ago how bad the initial adjustment period can be - increased anxiety/ panic, nausea etc.Can I please get some advice from people who have been through this and come out the other side, how long did the initial side effects last. The initial period is freaking me out so bad I have been procrastinating about taking this prescription for months. I'd love to hear from those who are on SSRI antidepressants and finding it working for their anxiety, may help to get me going. Thanks

BeeGee A pointless grumble
  • replies: 3

Just thought I'd waste some time having a moan... I'm really tired of waiting for my meds to do something - anything! One good day in six weeks of trying - humph. All that has done is make the bad days seem worse. I know, it's slow. I just feel like ... View more

Just thought I'd waste some time having a moan... I'm really tired of waiting for my meds to do something - anything! One good day in six weeks of trying - humph. All that has done is make the bad days seem worse. I know, it's slow. I just feel like my patience is wearing very thin. I have a follow-up with the GP next week, but that seems forever away and she's impossible to see on short notice. I'm just not sure how many cycles of trying different meds I have the stamina for... maybe today is just not a good day.

CrazyCookie One day at a time
  • replies: 1

Well im kind of new to this and not 100% sure if this will work but ill try.Long story short, I was told by the doctor I have depression and anxiety and he put me on medication. Everything seemed to be getting abit better but the last month I feel th... View more

Well im kind of new to this and not 100% sure if this will work but ill try.Long story short, I was told by the doctor I have depression and anxiety and he put me on medication. Everything seemed to be getting abit better but the last month I feel the black foggy sadness and uncontrollable thoughts and feelings on a daily basis. I did speak to my doctor awhile ago and was tol I am on the effective dose and cant be increased. Im hoping by typing this it makes me feel better in myself.Anyway ill stop waffling and go back to fighting off the black fog inside me and faking a normal emotion for my families sake

BeeGee Feel crap - meds kicking in?
  • replies: 6

So I've recently been diagnosed with dysthymia, to my surprise - wasn't even aware that what I was experiencing was depression. I started on one SSRI but it turned my head to mush (which was unhelpful when preparing for exams!) and my GP switched me ... View more

So I've recently been diagnosed with dysthymia, to my surprise - wasn't even aware that what I was experiencing was depression. I started on one SSRI but it turned my head to mush (which was unhelpful when preparing for exams!) and my GP switched me to a different SSRI. I'm in my third week of this one now so I'm expecting to start feeling something over the next few weeks. What I actually feel today is depressed. I'm down. I have no energy. I can't concentrate. I don't care about anything. I want to crawl into a hole and disappear for the rest of the day - but of course that's not an option - I have to keep on keeping on, trying to pretend everything is OK and putting on my robot smile. I know people respond differently to their meds, and the onset is not necessarily representative of the long term outcome, but have others experienced this too? I hate that having taken steps to deal with my condition that I now feel worse than before. It sucks. I need a virtual hug.

Chloekat84 Anyone else have to wait soo long to see a psychiatrist???
  • replies: 6

Hey guys. Well im in a position where i have been told i cant have my first appointment to see my psychiatrist until the end of september! Apparently hes fully booked until then. I cant believe this. Maybe its because im going through the public syst... View more

Hey guys. Well im in a position where i have been told i cant have my first appointment to see my psychiatrist until the end of september! Apparently hes fully booked until then. I cant believe this. Maybe its because im going through the public system i don't know. Has anyone else gone through a similar situation? I don't have to wait as long for a psychologist which is really weird there seems to be a few of them round and they can come to u more. The psychiatrist im seeing is on the other side of town and i need to pay a $60 gap fee! This is ridiculous! Im worried i could go downhill or get worse while waiting to see the doc. Any input would be appreciated.

just_let_go Cancelled my psychologist sessions.
  • replies: 1

I've decided to stop seeing my phycologist. I'm not sure if it was the best decision but It just wasn't working for me. She was adamant in that I must talk about my past which I am not comfortable doing. She was quite insistent in finding out what ha... View more

I've decided to stop seeing my phycologist. I'm not sure if it was the best decision but It just wasn't working for me. She was adamant in that I must talk about my past which I am not comfortable doing. She was quite insistent in finding out what happened to cause the trauma that my Anxiety test revealed and I almost had a panic attack just thinking about it. It's something I've only told my mum about and that's as far as I ever want it to go. Surely I don't have to go into that extremely personal stuff just to get some general help with my anxiety and depression... I know she is just doing her job but I just can't do it. Feeling very depressed now. I had a really good week last week and almost let myself believe I was myself again but i really should have known better. I am going to sort out some medication tomorrow. So yeah that's my venting done for the day.

StrugglingStudent Help! Antidepressant Withdrawal and Changeover
  • replies: 2

Hello Beyond Blue community, I have my second appointment with my new psychiatrist tomorrow and i don't know what to do. I am 25 years old and have been on antidepressants (mainly SSRI's) since I was 15. They didn't seem to be doing much good but at ... View more

Hello Beyond Blue community, I have my second appointment with my new psychiatrist tomorrow and i don't know what to do. I am 25 years old and have been on antidepressants (mainly SSRI's) since I was 15. They didn't seem to be doing much good but at least i wasn't getting any horrible side effects from them (severe side effect from the one SNRI that i tried). 5 weeks ago i started seeing a psychiatrist who advised me to taper off my meds over the 4 weeks until my second appointment, and then he would start me on a new class of antidepressants (MAOI's). I voiced my concern about withdrawal symptoms because in the past if i forgot just one dose i got pretty sick. He said if it was a problem then just taper a bit slower. I wouldn't be able to contact him as he was going away on holidays. Well i have rarely been so sick in my life! I couldn't wean off as fast as he wanted me to so i postponed my appointment to give myself an extra week to wean. Still couldn't do it. Someone once compared coming off this antidepressant to trying to kick heroine and I believe them! A quick search on the internet revealed that this is VERY common. Why don't the doctors warn us? In fact it seems like they are completely clueless! How have other people tapered off their antidepressants? Is anyone else out there taking MAOI class meds? I've read some pretty bad press about them and am really scared about going on them. Somebody please, please help me. I feel like i'm losing the plot.

Pbo6167 Pricing is far out of my reach
  • replies: 10

I have been suffering with depression for some 5 years now.The other day i finally went and saw my GP i did a mental health assesment and she placed meds which are slowly starting to help. She would also like me do a mental assesment with a phscologi... View more

I have been suffering with depression for some 5 years now.The other day i finally went and saw my GP i did a mental health assesment and she placed meds which are slowly starting to help. She would also like me do a mental assesment with a phscologist i made some calls but the pricing is far out of my reach as i am on a carers pension for my wife who has MS.Iwould just like to know can you obtain any help to see these Proffessional as i really need to talk to some one independant of my family. Any help would be greatful.

jazzicaj I moved and settled on the other side of the world and i need help finding help
  • replies: 1

Long story short. Have struggled with depression since is was a teenager. Was diagnosed by family doctor in my mid twenties by GP, told him he didn't know what he was talking about and shouldn't throw the 'D' word around willy nilly like that though ... View more

Long story short. Have struggled with depression since is was a teenager. Was diagnosed by family doctor in my mid twenties by GP, told him he didn't know what he was talking about and shouldn't throw the 'D' word around willy nilly like that though deep down knew he was right but decided i was better and stronger than that. Now in my early thirties and realizing it's not a matter of being better or stronger……it's a matter of acknowledging and doing better (for yourself). Problem is i moved and settled on the other side of the world and i need help finding 'help'! I need to know who and where i can go to find help online like a councilor who does 'Skype' sessions?FYI: I moved to a tiny town in the north of Italy and no english speaking councilors here. And even if i can speak Italian now feels much better expressing yourself in your own language!

Emster96 Medication vs Alternate Treatment?
  • replies: 3

I was wondering what every body prefers in regards to their own personal treatment for Bipolar Disorder? I myself am medicated but find it fascinating how so many find they are able to lead high functioning lives with things like meditation and breat... View more

I was wondering what every body prefers in regards to their own personal treatment for Bipolar Disorder? I myself am medicated but find it fascinating how so many find they are able to lead high functioning lives with things like meditation and breathing exercises and/or a good diet.How do you treat your condition? Thanks in advance for the feedback.